Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal took five wickets to steer Pakistan to a nine wicket win in their second Test against Sri Lanka at Dubai Stadium yesterday, going 1-0 up in the three-match series.
The 34-year-old finished with 5-68 — his fourth five wicket haul in a Test — to help restrict Sri Lanka to 257 in their second innings, before Pakistan went about reaching their modest 94-run target to seal victory with a day to spare.
Ajmal was ably supported by left-arm spin partner Abdul Rehman (2-65) and paceman Junaid Khan (2-38) as they exploited the spin and low bounce on a weary pitch to the best effect.
Photo: AFP
Pakistan lost opener Taufiq Umar, bowled for one by spinner Rangana Herath, but Mohammad Hafeez (59) and Azhar Ali (29) scored the required runs inside 24.1 overs soon after the lights went on in the stadium.
Ali took the winning single much to the delight of a 2,000 holiday crowd, but it was Hafeez who hit five boundaries and two towering sixes to secure Pakistan’s win on the fourth day.
In Sri Lanka’s second innings opener Tharanga Paranavitana (72) and vice-captain Angelo Mathews (52 not out) put up notable resistance against some penetrative pace-cum-spin attack from Pakistan.
Pakistan had dismissed Sangakkara (30) in the fourth over of the fourth day, before dismissing Mahela Jayawardene (5) and skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan (3) — three wickets within 18 runs — to put them on the victory path.
The first Test ended in a draw at Abu Dhabi last week. Sri Lanka, who resumed at 88-1, had been hoping for Sangakkara to stay longer and thus keep Pakistan at bay as he did in the second innings of the first Test when he scored an epic 211.
However, the experienced batsman was reduced to adding just a single to his overnight score of 29 when he did not offer a stroke to left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman’s incoming delivery and although he pushed too far New Zealand umpire Tony Hill adjudged him LBW.
Sangakkara, who did not hit a single boundary, walked back in disgust. He added 73 for the second wicket with Tharanga.
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